System and method for increasing air conditioner efficiency

ABSTRACT

A screen of evaporative cooling media (“screen cooler”) is provided that may be adapted to partially surround the exterior compressor unit of an air conditioner. In some embodiments, the screen cooler may screen the AC unit from the sun and exposure to other forces or events that could potentially harm the AC unit. In some embodiments, the screen cooler is adapted to receive an input of a liquid, such as, for example, water and periodically emit the liquid onto the evaporative cooling media to keep the media moist and cool the air being pulled through the condensing coil and entering the compressor. By cooling the air prior to the air entering the compressor, the efficiency of the AC unit may thereby be increased.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This invention relates in general to the field of air conditioners, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to increasing the efficiency of an air conditioning unit.

2. Background

One of the most important products to become available in a very long time is the air conditioner. An air conditioner (often referred to as “AC”) is an appliance, system, or mechanism designed to extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle. Its purpose, in a building or an automobile, is to provide comfort during hot weather. In the refrigeration cycle, a heat pump transfers heat from a lower-temperature heat source into a higher-temperature heat sink. Heat would naturally flow in the opposite direction. This is the most common type of air conditioning. This cycle takes advantage of the way phase changes work, where latent heat is released at a constant temperature during a liquid/gas phase change, and where varying the pressure of a pure substance also varies its condensation/boiling point.

The most common refrigeration cycle uses an electric motor to drive a compressor. In a building, an electric motor is used for air circulation. Since evaporation occurs when heat is absorbed, and condensation occurs when heat is released, air conditioners use a compressor to cause pressure changes between two compartments, and actively condense and pump a refrigerant around. A refrigerant is pumped into the evaporator coil, located in the compartment to be cooled, where the low pressure causes the refrigerant to evaporate into a vapor, taking heat with it. At the opposite side of the cycle is the condenser, which is located outside of the cooled compartment, where the refrigerant vapor is compressed and forced through another heat exchange coil, condensing the refrigerant into a liquid, thus rejecting the heat previously absorbed from the cooled space. An outdoor cooling fan pulls the outside air through the condensing coil to cool it and thereby help it condense the high temperature refrigerant gas back in to a liquid. With a typical split system, the condenser and compressor are located in an outdoor unit; the evaporator is mounted in the air handler unit. With a package system, all components are located in a single outdoor unit that may be located on the ground, in a window, or on a roof.

One way to increase the efficiency of an AC unit is to lower the temperature of the air entering the compressor unit. Evaporation is a cheap and easy way to cool the intake air being pulled into the compressor unit. In the past, a fluid, such as water, was applied directly to the condenser coils of the AC unit to lower the temperature via evaporation. However, applying fluid directly to the coils can cause corrosion of the coils and a buildup of deposits, such as minerals, when the fluid evaporates. Thus, applying a fluid directly to the coils is not a viable option. Another way of pre-cooling the air entering the compressor unit is to first pass the air across moistened evaporative pads. In that way, the benefits of evaporation can be utilized without fluids being applied directly to the coils of the compressor unit. However, the systems for doing this are generally expensive, complicated, and bulky assemblies that enclose the entire compressor unit. Such systems are generally not aesthetically pleasing and by enclosing the entire compressor unit, restrict airflow thereto causing a loss of efficiency. Thus, what is needed is a simple, cost-effective, and aesthetically pleasing system and method for increasing the efficiency of an AC unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for increasing the efficiency of an air conditioner is provided.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a screen of evaporative cooling media (“screen cooler”) is provided that may be adapted to partially surround the exterior compressor unit of an air conditioner. In some embodiments, the screen cooler may screen the AC unit from the sun and exposure to other forces or events that could potentially harm the AC unit. In some embodiments, the screen cooler is adapted to receive an input of a liquid, such as, for example, water and periodically emit the liquid onto the evaporative cooling media to keep the media moist and cool the air being pulled through the condensing coil and entering the compressor. By cooling the air prior to the air entering the compressor, the efficiency of the AC unit may thereby be increased.

The above summary of the invention is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. Particular embodiments may include one, some, or none of the listed advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of one embodiment of a screen cooler;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of the screen cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a hose connection of the screen cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates an inside (compressor side) perspective view of the screen cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a screen cooler having a hood;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of increasing the efficiency of an AC unit according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment of a screen cooler; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an embodiment of a screen cooler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a front view of an embodiment of a screen cooler 100 is shown in accordance with various aspects of the present invention. The screen cooler 100 may be designed to increase the efficiency of air conditioning systems, especially those disposed in warmer climates. As will be described in more detail below, the screen cooler 100 may increase the efficiency of a typical air conditioning system by effectively lowering the temperature of much of the air that the system is taking in. During the hottest times of the day, lowering the intake air temperature by a few degrees can result in energy savings and prolong the life of the air conditioning system. In some embodiments, the screen cooler 100 may be primarily made with sustainable materials resulting in both an environmental and economic benefit. In various embodiments, the screen cooler 100 may be easy to assemble and may be customized depending on the needs of a user. In some embodiments, the screen cooler 100 may plug in to a standard electrical outlet, may be battery operated, or may not need any electricity in order to run.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the screen cooler 100 can typically be seen having a decorative lattice 104 over an evaporative cooling media 116 partially surrounding two AC units 108. In some embodiments, the screen cooler 100 may partially surround a single AC unit or a plurality of AC units. By partially surrounding the exterior of the AC units 108, the screen cooler 100 may improve the aesthetic appeal of the AC units 108. In addition, the screen cooler 100 may screen the AC unit 108 from the sun and exposure to other forces or events that could potentially harm the AC unit 108. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the screen cooler 100 is adapted to receive an input of a liquid, such as tap water from a standard garden hose 106. As will be described in more detail below, the liquid may be periodically emitted through, for example, a soaker or other hose designed to emit liquid, onto a top of the evaporative cooling media 116, thereby keeping the evaporative cooling media 116 moist and effectively able to cool air entering the compressor portion of the AC unit 108. By cooling the air entering the AC unit 108, the efficiency of the AC unit 108 may thereby be increased.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 collectively, a screen frame 102 of the screen cooler 100 can be seen. In some embodiments, the screen frame 102 may be a rigid exterior wood, fiberglass, metal or composite material. In some embodiments, the screen frame 102 may include four (or more) vertical posts 102 b for providing stand-alone support for the screen frame 102 around a single or multiple AC units 108. In some embodiments, the screen cooler 100 may include screen frame anchors, such as concrete or staking in the form of, for example, heavy tent or screw stakes connected to the vertical posts 102 b to anchor the screen cooler 100 in a fixed position. The vertical posts 102 b may be connected by a top rail 102 a and a bottom rail 102 c. In some embodiments, the bottom rail 102 c may be positioned roughly six inches off the ground and the top rail 102 a may be roughly even with the top of the AC units 108. The vertical posts 102 b, the top rail 102 a, and the bottom rail 102 c may have an interior flange in order to hold the decorative lattice 104 and the evaporative cooling media 116 in place. In some embodiments, the decorative lattice 104 may be made of, for example, exterior wood, composite material, stamped plastic, or other surface adapted to cover the areas between the vertical posts 102 b and the top and bottom rails 102 a and 102 c. The decorative lattice 104 may be seated in the flanges on the interior part of the screen frame 102 to hold the evaporative cooling media 116 in place while also providing a decorative cover that allows adequate airflow through the evaporative cooling media 116. In some embodiments, the hose 106 of the screen cooler 100 may be connected to a water source 114, such as a standard tap, and may include a watering timer 112 adapted to control the application of moisture to the evaporative cooling media 116. In some embodiments, no timer may be included, the timer may be adapted to plug into an external source of electricity, may be battery operated, or may be mechanical. The watering timer 112 may be adapted to include a valve that opens at preset times, temperatures, or intervals, and may be adapted to provide adjustable water pressures. Controlling the frequency and length of the watering intervals and the flow rate of the water provided during the watering intervals provides a user with control over the amount of water provided to the evaporative cooling media 116. In some embodiments, such control may allow a sufficient amount of water to be delivered to keep the evaporative cooling media 116 moist in order to obtain the benefits of evaporative cooling while at the same time limiting the amount of water provided in order to reduce excess water from being applied resulting in unevaporated water collecting underneath the evaporative cooling media 116.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the screen cooler 100 has three panels disposed around the AC units 108 and spaced apart therefrom by, for example, 2 to 4 inches to provide clearance between the inside surface of the evaporative media 116 and the AC unit 108. In the embodiment shown, the screen cooler 100 also includes an evaporative screen divider 110 disposed between the AC units 108 to provide additional cooling surface capacity. To moisten the evaporative screen divider 110, a portion of the drip hose 118 (shown in FIG. 3) may be disposed across the top of the evaporative screen divider 110. In some embodiments, the portion of the drip hose 118 disposed across the top of the evaporative screen divider 110 may be a branch of the main drip hose 118, such as, for example, in a T-shaped configuration, or may be the main drip hose 118, such as, for example, in a loop thereof. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the screen cooler 100 does not include an evaporative screen divider 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, an embodiment of the screen cooler 100 is shown having evaporative cooling media 116 disposed on an interior surface thereof. In some embodiments the evaporative cooling media 116 may be a rigid kraft-paper-type media that may be designed in rigid plates or blocks in depths of, for example, 2″ to 4″, with preformed alternating angle air channels adapted and designed to absorb moisture. In other embodiments, other absorbent media may be utilized. In some embodiments, the evaporative cooling media 116 may be secured to the decorative lattice 104 (not shown) and/or the screen frame 102 using evaporative cooling media straps 120, clips, or other means of securing the evaporative cooling media 116 in place. In some embodiments, the evaporative cooling media strap 120 may be a rubber or all-weather strap and may be tensioned across the evaporative cooling media 116 to hold it in place against the decorative lattice 104. In other embodiments, various other clips or tensioning devices may be used. In some embodiments, the liquid input may be, for example, a coupling adapted to connect to a standard garden hose 106. The screen cooler 100 may include a soaker or drip hose 118 or other hose or tubing having openings therealong and an end cap 118 a on one end thereof, adapted to disperse water across the top of the evaporative cooling media 116. In some embodiments, the top surface of the evaporative cooling media 116 a may include a “V” shaped channel adapted to direct water from the drip hose 118 toward a center of the evaporative cooling media 116. In various embodiments, a trough or other water capturing means may be disposed at the bottom of the evaporative cooling media 116 and utilized to capture the water and recirculate the water to the top of the evaporative cooling media 116. In such embodiments, a tube or hose may be disposed between the trough and the top of the evaporative cooling media 116 to facilitate the recirculation. For example, the tube may be coupled to the hose 106 or the soaker hose 118 and may include a water pump or simply utilize the Venturi effect to suck the water to the top of the evaporative cooling media 116.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an optional configuration of a screen cooler is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, an airflow baffle 122, such as a hood or awning may be provided to further screen the AC unit(s) from the sun and provide enhanced aesthetics and additional protection to the unit(s). In some embodiments, the airflow baffle 122 may extend from a top surface of the rail towards a top surface of the AC unit and/or from a bottom surface of the bottom rail towards the ground to further increase the effectiveness of the screen cooler to increase the amount of pre-cooled air taken through the evaporative media by reducing and/or sealing off the clearance space at the upper and/or lower ends of the screen frame.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow chart showing an embodiment of a method 600 for increasing air conditioning efficiency is shown. At step 602, a screen cooler is disposed near an AC unit. At step 604, a source of water or other evaporative cooling liquid is supplied to the screen cooler. At step 606, the evaporative cooling media is moistened. For embodiments that have a watering timer, the watering timer valve opens up at a preset time to allow water to flow from, for example, a standard residential exterior water faucet through a standard hose to the soaker hose that is positioned above the evaporative cooling media. The water moistens the evaporative cooling media and, at step 608, air is pulled across the moistened media, for example, when the AC unit compressor turns on and starts pulling air through its condensing coil. At 610, the air pulled across the moistened media is cooled prior to entering the AC unit. Because the screen may include a clearance of, for example, 2″ to 4″ from the actual AC unit, the AC unit benefits from the air being precooled while at the same time not being subject to the deleterious effects caused by water being directly applied to the AC unit or by a restriction of airflow into the AC unit. At step 612, for embodiments having a trough at the bottom of the evaporative cooling media, water may be recirculated to the top of the evaporative cooling media. At 614, the process repeats, as needed to moisten or re-moisten the evaporative cooling media. The amount of moisture may be adjusted through timing and/or water pressure to cause the evaporative cooling media to remain predominantly moist at preset times throughout the day without excessive moisture collection below the screen frame. The typical schedule in warmer climates can vary, but will generally be just a few minutes or less per hour during the hours of, for example, 10:00 am and 7:00 pm.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a diagram is shown of an embodiment of a screen cooler system 700 having a trough 724 disposed below the evaporative cooling media 716 for capturing any unevaporated cooling media. In the diagram, it can be seen that the cooing media, for example, water, matriculates from the soaker hose 718 through the evaporative cooling media 716 and into the trough 724. In the embodiment shown, a tube may be connected to the trough 724 for transferring the cooling medium from the bottom of the evaporative cooling media 716 back to the top. The tube may be coupled to transfer device 726 to facilitate the transfer, where the transfer device 726 may be a water pump or a Venturi valve. The transfer device 726 may be coupled to the hose 706 and/or may be coupled to the soaker hose 718.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a diagram is shown of an embodiment of a screen cooler system 800 from a top view. As can be seen, three panels of evaporative cooling media 816 have been disposed generally around an AC unit 808. In the embodiment shown, the AC unit 808 is a circular unit and the evaporative cooling media 816 has been disposed around approximately 270 degrees of the AC unit 808. In embodiments where the AC unit is rectangular, the evaporative cooling media 816 may be disposed outwardly of three of the four sides of the unit. In this way, the air flow to the AC unit 808 will not be restricted in the event that the evaporative cooling media 816 becomes clogged or airflow therethrough is otherwise obstructed.

Although various embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A stand-alone system for evaporatively cooling air entering an air conditioning (AC) unit, the system comprising: a plurality of cooling screen panels disposed near an AC unit, each cooling screen panel comprising: a plurality of vertical posts having upper ends and lower ends; a top rail secured between the upper ends of the vertical posts; a bottom rail secured between the lower ends of the vertical posts; a decorative lattice secured between the top and bottom rails; and an evaporative cooling media secured between the top and bottom rails and adjacent to the decorative lattice; a first cooling screen panel of the plurality of cooling screen panels disposed on a first side of the AC unit; second and third cooling screen panels disposed at opposite ends of the first cooling screen panel at an angle thereto to form a generally U-shaped assembly to enclose less than all of the AC unit; and a drip hose disposed along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media of the plurality of cooling screen panels, the drip hose having a plurality of holes disposed therealong, a connector on a first end thereof for connecting to a source of cooling fluid and an end cap at an opposite end thereof.
 2. The stand-alone system of claim 1 and further comprising a trough disposed below the evaporative cooling media for collecting unevaporated cooling fluid.
 3. The stand-alone system of claim 2 and further comprising a tube connecting the trough to the drip hose for delivering the unevaporated cooling fluid to the top surface of the evaporative cooling media.
 4. The stand-alone system of claim 3 and further comprising a fluid pump for pumping the unevaporated cooling fluid from the trough to the drip hose.
 5. The stand-alone system of claim 3 and further comprising a Venturi valve coupled to the tube for facilitating the delivery of the unevaporated cooling fluid from the trough to the drip hose.
 6. The stand-alone system of claim 1 and further comprising an airflow baffle extending from a top surface of the top rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media.
 7. The stand-alone system of claim 6, wherein the airflow baffle extends from the top surface of the top rail to a top surface of the AC unit.
 8. The stand-alone system of claim 1 and further comprising an airflow baffle extending from a bottom surface of the bottom rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media.
 9. The stand-alone system of claim 1 and further comprising a V-shaped channel disposed along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media for facilitating dispersion of the cooling fluid.
 10. The stand-alone system of claim 1 and further comprising: a flange around the interior surfaces of each of the plurality of cooling screen panels for securing the lattice thereagainst; and a bracket securing the evaporative cooling media against the lattice, the ends of the bracket being secured to the vertical posts.
 11. A method of evaporatively cooling air entering an air conditioning (AC) unit, the method comprising: providing a plurality of cooling screen panels, each cooling screen panel comprising: a plurality of vertical posts having upper ends and lower ends; a top rail secured between the upper ends of the vertical posts; a bottom rail secured between the lower ends of the vertical posts; a decorative lattice secured between the top and bottom rails; and an evaporative cooling media secured between the top and bottom rails and adjacent to the decorative lattice; securing a first cooling screen panel of the plurality of cooling screen panels approximately 2-4 inches from an AC unit; securing second and third cooling screen panels of the plurality of cooling screen panels to opposite ends of the first cooling screen panel at an angle thereto to form a generally U-shaped assembly to enclose less than all of the AC unit; disposing a drip hose along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media of the plurality of cooling screen panels, the drip hose having a plurality of holes disposed therealong; and connecting the drip hose to a water source for intermittently providing a flow of water to moisten the evaporative cooling media to cool air flowing thereacross.
 12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising adjusting the flow of water to the evaporative cooling media by changing a length of time water is provided to the evaporative cooling media, changing a frequency of providing water to the evaporative cooling media, and changing a pressure of the water being provided to the evaporative cooling media.
 13. The method of claim 11 and further comprising providing a trough below the evaporative cooling media for collecting unevaporated water.
 14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising connecting the trough to the drip hose with a tube.
 15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising recirculating the unevaporated water from the trough to the drip hose via the tube.
 16. The method of claim 11 and further comprising providing an airflow baffle extending from a top surface of the top rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the airflow baffle extends from the top surface of the top rail to a top surface of the AC unit.
 18. The method of claim 11 and further comprising providing an airflow baffle extending from a bottom surface of the bottom rail for decreasing the airflow around the evaporative cooling media.
 19. The method of claim 11 and further comprising providing a V-shaped channel disposed along a top surface of the evaporative cooling media for facilitating dispersion of the cooling fluid.
 20. The method of claim 11 and further comprising: providing a flange around the interior surfaces of each of the plurality of cooling screen panels for securing the lattice thereagainst; and providing a bracket to secure the evaporative cooling media against the lattice, the ends of the bracket being secured to the vertical posts. 